Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution last night encouraging administrators and the College of Arts and Sciences to preserve the African American Studies Department and award Black Media professor Jeff Wray tenure.

Wray has served as the course's professor for four years, but has not been offered a contract extension. The department consists of three tenured faculty members and Wray.

Because the Black Media faculty position has not been tenured since 1985 and the college has not given Wray a contract extension, Wray said he probably will not have a job at OU next year.

The college gave Wray no explanation about why his contract was not extended, Cary said. Eliminating Wray's position would decrease the department's staffing by 25 percent because of the inadequate number of faculty, according to the resolution.

"If (Wray) leaves, that's the end of the department," Robynn Ragland said.

The university cannot claim to support diversity and consider cutting department funds, said Ryan Cary, senator for Arts and sponsor of the resolution.

"We're tired of being treated like an academic ghetto," Wray said.

Students at the meeting voiced support for the resolution.

"(The department) is not just an asset to African Americans, but to the university as a whole," said Tiece Ruffin, member of OU Recruiting Society.

Senators also took a "vote of confidence" to keep President Chad Tanner, Vice President Ann Charles Watts and Treasurer Erik Roush in office for at least another quarter.

Voting members cast their votes by secret ballot. "Yes" votes indicated the executive should remain in office, while "no" votes expressed that the executive be removed from office. Senators could abstain from voting.

Tanner received 33 "yes" votes, three "no" votes and two abstentions. Watts received 29 "yes" votes, three "no" votes and six abstentions. Roush received 34 "yes" votes, one "no" vote and three abstentions. The vote might help executives improve throughout the rest of the year.

"Dissent is always welcome," Tanner said. "There are people who are unhappy. I'll be more conscious of that."

Senate also passed a resolution supporting an elementary education funding bill up for consideration in the state legislature.